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Are you dying?

Definitely captured the essence of the day and was also good to see extra Nichols' footage. Here's my formal request for a full length solo video!

Nick definitely needs a big hug, haha

Slightly different but not totally removed. I had the choice to see my Dad before they turned off the machine - he was in a vegetative state after brain surgery - but I chose not to and I don't think it made a difference to me. Then again I don't care for graves or funeral rituals either. As someone said, do whatever feels like it's going to serve you best in the long run. For some of us death is just death and the conventional offerings for dealing with it just don't necessarily mean much. Nowt wrong in that.

Flowy bits were flowy. Anyway, that video made me happy. Keep at it, init.

Seriously motherf**king f**k. And what the f**k is the ** about in f**k? What difference did anyone ever imagine that f**king ever made? It's possibly the most retarded game self-deception there is.

Cheers for the comments chaps except you George. Any identification with Knickers Cooke can only be taken as an insult. Jokes. Nah, Nick has definitely been an influence for my riding in certain respects although, at the same time, on rides it often feels like we're doing pretty different stuff.

But I've just been doing what I enjoy and given that I still feel a part of this community I thought I would share my riding. I do actually plan on bring trials back into my riding but I've been focusing on certain bmx moves more recently. I hope to start blending them with trials a bit more in the future.

Just trollin' ...although I completely relate to Flipp's point.

That was a very good video. James has stepped up his videographic skills and Euan has stepped up his style. It's a shame that the focus was so much on nose rolls, despite how tech they were, as I know Euan's riding is broader. I also know the weather didn't support your efforts so it happens.

I always lament that I don't get to see more of your riding, Sam. That was such a tease. Very awesome though and it made me happy seeing that full cab from London. Your goat noises were tripping me out. I turned off your video twice to check if some goat pop ups were running in the background, haha.

It might help Dave is you phrased it in terms of the fact you feel it is boring but your sentence suggested the riding was boring itself. It's a pretty important distinction that most people seem to either not know or forget. It would avoid so many needless arguments...

Man, why do you people need a thread locked because you disagree? I've never understood what it's supposed to achieve? If you've had enough of it stop reading it?

I do find it difficult to imagine that at the time of conception there wasn't some marketing intent to exploit the genital meaning. In fact, it probably seemed all the more appealing because you could claim you actually meant the cat meaning which could then help with legally circumventing whatever regulating body you have to deal with. For instance, "fanny" doesn't offer the same synonymic potential as "pussy" When I was at college we looked at television adverts regarding how they appealed to you, manipulated you, etc. We looked at the video I've posted below. Notice the product 'qualities' are loosely in the form of chemical formula clearly to exploit the prestige of science despite actually being meaningless to it. We looked at various other adverts and it's pretty typical for them to do these types of things. What I mean is I wouldn't identify a regulating body as an absolute filter of 'bad' intent regarding marketing schemes. Admittedly I can't say for certain in this instance. Nonetheless, it feels pretty obvious to me that it's an exploitation of the genital meaning. As JD points out, it's worked because we're all rambling about it, and I find that actually as further (albeit not absolute) evidence of intent. The advertising board seems to make it even more likely as well. I wonder if it was the shape of their first advert? If so, that seems even more damning. It's all pretty boring and gimmicky though much like FCUK, etc. Edit: I put c-u-n-t where it put fanny.

I deleted Facebook the other day although I just logged back in to change that to a deactivation so I can use it over the Summer. It's definitely helping me be more productive at studying and actually I've started being more social in my shared house, with friends, etc. I don't imagine this is a problem that other people necessarily have but I don't think Facebook was all that healthy for me. It's blatantly very useful for bike related stuff - community, videos, etc. Similarly it's an awesome means for following current affairs due to the ease by which people can share articles, etc. Facebook does fit into a situation I see becoming more prevalent in our technological age that I don't think is all that healthy for anyone though. People seem to require much more technological stimulation at an increasing rate. I went round my friends' house some time last year and they had two televisions on (different sports), they were all using either their phones or laptops to look on the internet and they kept using the xbox in the television adverts. People often seem to constantly check their phones, listen to mp3 players, etc. This is something people seem to need more and more of and I would suggest that it relates to the probability of the reward they give and the inescapable reduction of that reward over time so that you need heightened stimulation (either greater intensity in a given moment or lots more moments). There have been studies about people's feelings about having these devices removed from their lives and the idea tends to create significant anxiety. We are moving in a direction where we are becoming increasingly unable to just "be" with our environment in its more basic or natural sense. This is despite the fact that the majority of our evolution hasn't required technology to get by. Basically, technology is seemingly becoming an addiction for a lot of us. If we spend our lives pursuing it as a means for feeling okay yet it diminishes in its effects this seems like a recipe for disaster (the sort of thing that might promote the chance of a midlife crisis). We always need to retain an awareness of our evolved ability to find reward in the fact that we actually exist. Technology is awesome but it seems to be getting increasingly misused and causing us to forget that ability. I think Facebook plays its role in that sense.

I've always found getting offended by swear words within themselves rather arbitrary. It's good to have words that I can use to express the pain I'm suffering after falling off my bike but, in terms of offense, ultimately it's a choice. You give swear words their offensiveness rather than the other way round despite what our common way of talking about ithem suggests (i.e. "swear words offend me"). That being said, context and intent are essential. Sometimes offense or a critical repsonse can seemingly make a bit more sense. A words meaning is always tied to the situation in which it's used. For example if somebody called a black person a "nigga", with racist/hating intent I would almost certainly get offended unless I was feeling particularly collected. If the same word was used in a satirical sense or by black people themselves it's meaning would change for me. Either way, it still remains a choice even if it seems like a difficult one. I think it's always worth thinking about whether there's much point getting offended by swear/strong words in many situations. I don't see much wrong with kiddies swearing. It's just worth emphasising their use as a strong means of expression for pain, anger, etc. so they don't get too devalued by less intense situations. When it comes to "Pussy" the context is marketing/profit and the intent is to appeal to those who like to think of themselves as rebellious (I guess?). It's the fact that people decide to get offended by the word that gives it a power in this sense. Personally, I just find it obvious, gimmicky and boring. I have to confess that I owned a Rob Warner 'Unt" t-shirt when I was a teenager so I can't be too judgmental, haha I also think energy drinks are pretty sinister. I'm amazed they aren't for over 18s only. I've used illicit drugs that amount to a similar level of energy/buzz. I'm curious what chronic drinkers of the stuff will look like in 20 years.

I don't think you did misunderstand me. I've always found life pretty difficult anyway but my accident created one of the most challenging years (and a bit) of my life. When I get frustrated and can't find an outlet that works I tend to tell the world about it on here, which actually helps That's not to say I've not had happiness in that time though because I have - I just feel less need to express it on a forum I guess. When I'm happy most of the time I'm off bouncing off the walls in some sense. I wasn't challenging you with my response though. I was just curious.

Hah, do I come across as predominantly unhappy? I guess I usually don't post about the good times but do mostly about the bad as a means of venting. Also the last year and a bit of my life has been particularly problematic so there has been plenty to vent about. It's interesting to hear about the image I potentially give out on the forum though so thanks

Sorry to hear that, chap. How's it happen? *How'd!

Love Luke's smooth style. Watching him ride up a curb would be satisfying.

Had an amazing ride at the new Rush skatepark today. That shit makes me happy

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I agree also. Relationships are complex and difficult and should be recognised and approached as such. Feelings within them continually change but the presence of negative ones doesn't mean you can't return to positive ones. Consumerist culture seems to have invaded relationships though and they have become quite disposable to many people. They are also seen in a quite passive way (falling in love) rather than an activity whereby you both have to constantly work to reach new levels of balance and companionship. In a related sense people seem to identify love with that initial relationship excitement and when it inevitably goes they think that love has left. The more subtle but deeper feelings that may or may not come about after the excitement has gone, that are actually love, are seen as lesser when actually they are the essential qualities that allow proper for proper companionship.

Hah, cheers dude It's all my in head though; like everything I guess.

It is a bit annoying when I get my hopes up because I enjoy watching your videos, G. Nonetheless I appreciate if you're at the mercy of perfectionism and/or insecurity which I'm assuming is the basis of your behavior. I agree that attacking your for this doesn't really achieve anything of much worth. I will say that giving into perfectionism or insecurity only means they dominate you. I'm usually displeased with my riding, videos, etc. but I won't let that stop me. You have to recognise that those feelings don't really serve you and stand up against them otherwise life becomes more problematic. I've found by trying to ignore them as much as possible their voices have definitely lessened over time although they have never really completely gone away (especially perfectionism!). Yet the more they have reduced the easier life has become in many senses.